Okay followers ~ You have seen and heard me gasp, pant, and moan about this great cover AND I have written a review about this book as well.
I totally LOVED IT!!!
**Giveaway of Fever by author Joan Swan-see rules at bottom of post.
Q & A with Joan Swan
I’d like to welcome author Joan Swan to my blog today! She is celebrating her upcoming release of her debut novel, FEVER. ***throws cyber confetti***
Fever is to be released February 28, 2012
Hello, Joan—pull up a chair and get comfy. And no wisecracks about my Hello Kitty pj’s—they are very comfortable. You might have to push a few (hundreds) books to the side to make it to my desk.
First off, I have made a fresh pot of coffee. But if you’re not a java fan, I have diet Pepsi, milk, or Patron in the freezer. Care for anything?
Oooo, you have diet Pepsi? I love you!
**Pours fresh cup for myself—heavy on the Hazelnut and Splenda. *splash of whiskey—don’t judge me, people. It’s been a rough week.
1. In your acknowledgements in your debut novel, FEVER, you state that the journey to publication took ten years? Can you tell us a little bit about that process (and quite frankly, you scared the bejeezus out of my husband—10 YEARS?!—as I am working on my own manuscript)?
Yes, it’s been quite a trek. The short version is this:
I was a voracious reader and came to a point where I had exhausted all my favorite author’s works, including their backlists. For a while, I ventured into new authors, and quickly devoured their work. Then I found myself dredging. Although I wasn’t as picky a reader then as I am now, I was still required solid plot and consistent characters. When I simply ran out of satisfying reads, I started to write. Not because I thought I could do better. Not because I had any thought of being published. Just to pass the time until something new came out.
But it only took a few chapters before I realized I was hooked. That I loved creating stories more than reading what someone else had created.
From that point on, I wrote. And I studied craft. And I wrote some more.
I sold eight years and nine manuscripts later. And now, ten years after starting, Fever releases.
2. What made you decide to pick an escaped convict as a romantic hero?
I can’t really say I picked him. I think he picked me.
Fever developed from one little “What if..?” stemming from my own daily real life circumstances. I’ve been a sonographer for twenty years and one of the hospitals where I worked gained a huge prisoner clientele over a year’s time span. I went from scanning two or three prisoners a week to scanning five to eight prisoners every single morning. I spent half my day surrounded by guards and inmates. The more I understand their routines and procedures, the more clearly I recognized how easily something could go wrong with something as simple as one tip off from someone inside the hospital to a prisoner’s family member or one officer off his game that day.
Many, many times I was left in dangerous situations with prisoners that should have never been allowed to exist. I was lucky, nothing ever happened. But that didn’t keep me from thinking, “What if…?”
3. I know that you have three books planned so far for this series. Will there be more? What can you tell us about the next two books, INFERNO and BLAZE?
Oooo, well, I’ll give you a little exclusive treat, Trish. I recently received the back cover copy of BLAZE, which ROCKS! And I’ll share it with you here:
The hotter they come, the harder they fall…
With a man like him, every mission becomes personal…
Ever since FBI agent Keira O’Shay started tracking a young boy named Mateo, she’s felt a connection even her empathic abilities can’t explain. She needs to save Mateo from the cult leader holding him hostage. Nothing can interfere with that—not even the reappearance of Luke Ransom, the hot-as-hell fire captain she’s regretted walking out on for three long years.
Losing Keira left Luke vulnerable—in every way. When they were together, the powers each possesses were mysteriously enhanced. But it’s the sexy, surprising woman beneath the tough exterior that Luke’s really missed. Even if she betrayed him utterly. And even if agreeing to help her uncover a government conspiracy means watching his life and his heart go up in flames again…
INFERNO is my heartbreaker. Jessica Fury and Quaid Legend were newlyweds when their hazmat firefighting team stumbled upon an illegal chemical stash in a government warehouse set aflame, and the explosion took Quaid’s life. Or so they thought.
But in BLAZE, the team uncovers evidence that Quaid has been held as a prisoner in a secret military laboratory. Jessica utilizes her scrying abilities to help find and free Quaid only to discover that all the experimental testing he’s undergone over the years has wiped his mind clean, and he has no memory of her.
While Jessica has to decide if she can truly put the Quaid she married to rest and love the new man Quaid has become, Quaid has to learn to trust these strangers with only memories of deceit and abuse.
But they don’t have the luxury of time, because the scientists who developed Quaid’s clustered paranormal abilities into a powerful military aide are on an all-out mission to retrieve what they consider an extremely valuable weapon.
With their past shadowed and their future threatened, Jessica and Quaid face the ultimate battles of freedom—one for life, one for love.
Now, let’s have a few fun questions. I hate to be all serious all the time. Seriously, who can maintain that kind of demeanor 24/7?
1. When writing Teague (who is super hunky, BTW) who did you picture in your mind? And the model on the cover—who is he? He reminds me a bit of Jed Hill.
Oh, yes, Jed is Jaci Burton’s bootball guy – he is…amazing.
Actually, I’m very visual, so I always choose an image or images of someone to represent my hero and heroine in my head. It helps me with description.
For Teague, I chose an image that was a little darker and rougher than Jed.
I saw a magazine ad with David Beckham. He was portrayed as a boxer in an unzipped black sweat jacket, nothing underneath, hood up. It was perfect. I lost the photo, but here are a couple of images with a similar “look”.
2. What were the last 5 books you’ve read?
THE ROGUE PIRATE’S BRIDE by Shana Galen
ENRAPTURED by Elisabeth Naughton
THE PRIEST’S GRAVEYARD by Ted Dekker
THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern
THE DISCOVERY OF WITCHES by Deborah Harkness
3. Who are your top three favorite authors?
Heh, you almost got me on that one, Trish. Almost!
4. What one book do you think is a MUST READ for romance readers?
You mean besides mine?
Pfff..that's a given woman....
Honestly, I don’t think there is any one MUST. Romance is such a huge genre with so many so many talented voices and approaches and styles. It’s just too individual a choice.
5. Favorite fictional romance Alpha hero?
My Lord, Trish – do you torture everyone like this or am I just lucky?
Heehee...torture is my specialty, Joan...
6. Are you planning on buying your real life hero anything for Valentines? (Yes...I know...it's past Valentines...but interview was before the V-Day )
My hubby and I have been married over twenty years and make a point of doing special things for each other on a regular basis, so we typically forgo the showy days once a year.
The combination of his job in the early years and my job now, we spend a lot of time apart, so every day we’re together is a special day for us.
Awww...that is just so damn sweet. And I know what you mean about your hubby's job taking precious time away from the fam. Mine travels a ton, too.
7. Okay, in this round, tell us how you like your romance book heroes:
1. Undies or commando?
Boxer briefs – sexy
Uh....mine would be commando --cause it lessens the time to the good stuff!
2. Tatts or without?
Tasteful tatts are always welcome.
I'm with you on that one...don't like a completely covered mural...but a few strategically placed tatts are HAWT!
3. Dark and dirty or Fun and flirty?
There’s a time and place for both. Variety as the spice of life and all that.
I totes agree...although I am always up for a little dirtiness :)
4. Mr. GQ or Mr. Low-riding Levi’s that superbly caress a firm ass?
Again, so many days in the year…why restrict a man to one look?
I totally agree...but I am a sucker for jeans...faded, holey...tight or loose...I'm not picky :) Plus, they won't stay on too long :)
5. Lastly, are you a cover HOOR? Are you swayed by a rockin’ sex, er six-pack on a book cover?
Abso-freaking-lutely!
**cackles with glee...Cover HOORS unite!
Okay, I lied--- What questions are you never asked, but wish you were asked on these blog interviews?
Oh, let’s see…
If I were planning to escape from humanity and plant myself on a deserted island, which would it be? (not that the idea EVER crossed my mind…)
If I were going to give one of my two children away, which would it be and why?
(not that I’ve EVER contemplated that idea…)
How many licks DOES it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll pop?
(now that one, I have always wanted to know…)
GAH--Have you ever read Olivia Cunning's Back Stage Pass? What Trey can do with a Cherry sucker is just down right naughty and delish--You must check it out, J!
Joan, thank you sooooo much for stopping by and drinking with me (snort). Next time, I swear, I’ll buy.
Okay---Now for the goodies! I have 1 copy of Fever to give away.
Whoops-my bad--I am giving away 2 COPIES of FEVER!!
My rules are simple---just follow my blog--and leave me a comment telling me the last book you read that you truly enjoyed every second reading!!!!!!!
Comments will be accepted through the weekend and winner will be chose via Random.org. Winner Winners will be announced Monday, February 27, 2012
Book giveaway is open to US Residents only.
**SPECIAL Giveaway by Joan Swan**
Go to Go Swan' s website for a chance to win a Nook or a Kindle Fire--YOUR CHOICE--leaving a comment on my blog will make you eligible for a chance at this AWESOME giveaway. Just fill out the info on her Rafflecopter.
Joan's Links:
Buy Links:
Author Bio:
Joan Swan is a triple RWA® Golden Heart finalist and writes sexy romantic suspense with a paranormal twist. Her debut novel with Kensington Brava, FEVER, releases February 28, 2012. Her second novel, BLAZE, follows in October, 2012. In her day job, she works as a sonographer for one of the top ten medical facilities in the nation and lives on the California central coast in beautiful wine country with her husband and two daughters.
Book Blurb:
When Dr. Alyssa Foster is taken hostage by a prison inmate, she knows she's in deep trouble. Not just because Teague Creek is desperate for freedom, but because the moment his fingers brush against her skin, Alyssa feels a razor-sharp pang of need...
A man with a life sentence has nothing to lose. At least Teague doesn't, until his escape plan develops a fatal flaw: Alyssa. On the run from both the law and deadly undercover operatives, he can only give her lies, but every heated kiss tells him the fire between them could be just as devastating as the flames that changed him forever...
Joan is currently touring and stopping by at different blogs to promote her debut release...
Month of February
2/25: 7
Scribes
2/27:
Literal Addiction Live Chat
2/28: Author
Suzanne Johnson’s Blog, Preternatura, Fever Review
2/29:
Get Lost in a Story
2/29:
Romance Novel News
Click on above banner for the rest of the tour dates and great chances to win some really cool prizes!
